Stonelick Twp. man indicted for aggravated arson

Wendel

A 19-year-old Stonelick Township man was indicted March 20 for allegedly setting fire to vehicles owned by the person who reported poaching of deer.

Chad Allen Wendel, age 19, of Stonelick Township was indicted for the following: One count each of aggravated arson, a felony of the first degree; arson, a felony of the fourth degree; intimidation of a crime witness, a felony of the third degree; and vandalism, a felony of the fourth degree, said Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg in a press release.

Wendel is incarcerated at the Clermont County Jail. He is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, March 21, in common pleas court, Rodenberg said.

A co-defendant, a 17-year-old male, also was identified in this case. Charges were filed in Clermont County Juvenile Court, the sheriff said. The co-defendant is in custody at the Clermont County Juvenile Detention Center.

The Stonelick Township Fire Department and Clermont County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched about 10:17 p.m. Dec. 23 to 5300 Rapp Lane for three vehicles on fire, Rodenberg said.

Fire department personnel extinguished the fires and called the Clermont County Fire Investigation Team to the scene, the sheriff said. The fires were determined to be arsons and the investigation was turned over to the Investigative Unit of the sheriff's office.

It was suspected the fires were set to intimidate the homeowner who had provided information to the Ohio Division of Wildlife during an investigation into the poaching of deer and the dumping of the carcasses in the fall of 2012, Rodenberg said.

Following the investigation, the case was presented to the Clermont County Grand Jury March 20.

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Stonelick Twp. man indicted for aggravated arson

A 19-year-old Stonelick Township man was indicted March 20 for allegedly setting fire to vehicles owned by the person who reported poaching of deer.